Lighten Up - Barry McGuire

Lighten Up is a surprisingly wonderful set of pop tunes by former New Christy Minstrel protest singer Barry McGuire. With a bevy of famous players -- from Dean Parks to Michael Omartian, Leland Sklar, Joe Osborn, Jim Gordon, Larry Knechtel, and others -- the drive and enthusiasm so important to making a good record are on this album, which could be considered the work of a "New Christian Minstrel." Some artists lose their angst in finding Jesus; pulled from the dark side they often misplace (or just give up) their rock & roll edge, but that can't be said for McGuire, and three songs immediately stand out: "Don't Blame God," "Pay the Piper," and "Walk in the Sonshine." There is also a terrific rendition of "Eve of Destruction," with McGuire alone on acoustic guitar giving it the slow and moody treatment, different enough to make secular folk buy the record as well as those who pay attention to the catalogs of the Myrrh and Word record labels. Where Dan Peek was so contrived upon leaving the group America to become a Christian artist/star (an oxymoron when you stop to think about it; the purity of singing to the Lord seems more special if its not manufactured and promoted as Black Sabbath and Celine Dion records are), it is clear on Lighten Up that Barry McGuire is spreading his word the best way he knows how. No nonsense and no tacky cover photo as Peek gave listeners with his All Things Are Possible album. Here McGuire is long-haired at a microphone obscured by darkness -- a very cool cover. When he sings, "I'm not going to sing about anyone but Jesus," you really believe him. The material here is spiritually intact. It's honest folk music, and who would have thought that the gravelly voice which ruled the radio airwaves in 1965 would come back as an honest-to-God folksy Jesus freak? The lyrics are insightful, the playing is superb, and "Hey World" infuses a Traffic-style jazz moment within the message. His electric preacher style works well, and the persona would be just perfect for a motion picture. ~ Joe Viglione, All Music Guide